Weighing-machine.



No. s3|,o52. Patented Aug. |5, |899.

F. H. RICHARDS.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Apr. 2, 1897.)

Patented Aug. I5, |899.

F. H. RICHARDS.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

Application led Apr. 2, 1897,)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

-No Model.)

wir@ S398 No. 63|,052. f Patented Aug. I5, |899. F. H. RICHARDS.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Appliction filed Apr. 2. 1897.)

3 Sheets-$heet 3.

Winesses fn venfor UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

WEIGHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,052, dated August 15, 1899.

Application filed April 2, 1897. Serial No. 630,852. (No model.)

T0 al?, whom, t m/(ty concern:

Beit known that LFRANcIs H. RICHARDs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Weighing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to weighingmachines, the object thereof being to provide an improved apparatus comprehending improved load-discharge mechanism embodying improved closer and regulator mechanisms whereby the closer can be locked shut during the loading of the load-receiver, unlocked at the proper predetermined period to permit the load-receiver to discharge its load, and locked open during such discharging period, its shutting or closing being controlled by said regulator mechanism, and which discharge `mechanism will be extremely simple and effective to accomplish the desired purpose.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side view of the improved weighing apparatus, a part of the framework and of the regulator mechanism being broken away and a part of such framework also being shown in section. Figs. 2 and 3 are side views of the improved load-discharge mechanism and likewise have parts thereof broken away said figures being views illustrating the progressive operation of said mechanism. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken in line ad, Fig. l.

Similar characters of reference designate like parts in all the iigures of the drawings.

The terms open-locked or locked-Opern7 and closed-lock or lock-closed or shut7 positions as used in this specification in connection with the load-discharge shiftable member or closer will be understood to mean, respectively, those positions of the closer where it is held or locked open to permit the discharge of the material from the load-receiver and where it is held or locked closed to prevent such discharge therefrom.

This improved weighing apparatus comprehends a material-supply means or chute, a load receiver or receptacle and its beam mechanism, and valve mechanism for regulating the supply to said load-receiver,and which parts, :if desired, may be similar in constructionv and their means of support to those heretofore described in my various previous patents, or as herein shown, similar to the like parts set forth in my Patent No. 442,719, dated December 16, 1890, upon which patented structure this machine is an improvement, load-discharge mechanism (designated in a general way by A) and comprehendin g closer mechanism (designated in a general way by B) for the discharge opening or spout of the load-receiver,and which closer mechanism comprises a closer or shiftable member of any suitable construction adapted for the purpose, and a closer-controlling instrumentality or means operable to lock the closer shut and also to lock the same open during predetermined periods in the operation of the weighing mechanism, and regulator mechanism (designated in a general way by C) and operative to control the closing or shutting of said closer.

The present weighing-machine being, as before stated, an improvement upon that shown in Patent No. 442,719,it is therefore deemed only necessary to give a general description of the parts thereof which form no inventive part of this improved apparatus, and therefore while the framework for carrying the operative parts of the machine may be of any desired construction it preferably comprises two side frames or uprights 2 and 3, connected together at the top by a top plate 4, carrying a supply-chute 5, and at the bottom by a beam or base-plate 6.

The material or load receiver or receptacle (designated generally by 200) may be like- Wise of any desired construction, but is shown herein as a bucket, preferably of the singlechambered type or class, and is supported under the supply-chute 5 by means of hangers or bails 7, iixedly secured to the bucket and preferably supported by V-shaped bearings 9 on knife-edge pivots 10, carried by a pair of bucket-supporting arms 12, forming a part of the scale-beam 125. This scale-beam 125 is supported for oscillatory movement by a pair of suitable bearings 13, one member of each being carried by the top plate 4 and the other member by a shaft 14 of such scalebeam. Extending rearwardly of the scalebeam shaft 14 and opposite to the bucketsupporting arms 12 is a weight-supporting arm 15, carrying a counterbalaneilig-weight IOO 150, supported thereon by a suitable bearing 1G. It will be understood that this weight could be of various constructions, but is preferably shown similarin structure to that of the patented apparatus above referred to.

The Valve mechanism for regulating the supply of material to the bucket in the present apparatus is herein shown comprising a pair of swinging or oscillatory valves, one operable to reduce the flow of such material, and therefore designated as a reducing-valve 20, and the other operable to completely cut off such iiow, and therefore designated as a cut-oft valve l0. Each of these valves comprehends a valve-blade 2l and '-ll, respectively, provided with arms 22 and 42, respectively, one at each end thereof, the arms 22 of the reducing-valve 20 being shown fixed to a rock-shaft 23, supported in bearings 2-t on the chute 5, while the arms 4t2 of the cutoff valve yl() are pivoted at the side of said supply-chute 5. The reducing-valve 2O is provided with an outwardly-extendin g valvelever 25, which is operated by the scale-beam and also by the regulator mechanism through a beam-arm 26 and its lever connections. This valve-lever 25 is usually weighted either by a weight 27, formed thereon, as illustrated in the drawings, or by a weight attached thereto. The beam-arm 2G, above referred to, is suitably fixed to a short rock-shaft 2S, journaled in a suitable bearing 29, formed on one of the bucket-supporting arms .l2 of the scalebeam. A short arm 30 is likewise ixedly secured to the outer end of said rock-shaft 2S and has pivotally attached thereto one end of a rod 3l, its opposite end being pivoted at 32 to an arm or link 33, which is pivotally connected at 34C to an arm 35, formed on the scale-beam. An actuator-connector 3G, similar to the actuator-connector 5G, hereinafter described, has its upper end connected to the rod 3l and link at the pivotal point of said link, with the rod and its lower end pivotally connected with the regulator mechanism by a rearwardly-extending arm S7.

The eut-off valve 4U,which, as before stated, is carried by arms yl2, pivoted to the chute, has one of said arms, as -l2, formed with a cut-otf-valve cam 43, and which valve-arm continuing upward is provided with a suitable weight 4st. It will be observed that this valve-cam a3 has three faces- 45, l5, and 45"-the part l5 thereof being` used during the elosin g of the red ucin g-valve, the part i5 during the poising period of the load-receiver, and the part 45 being used to permit the valve to cut off the drip-stream.

The cnt-off-valve actuator is shown herein comprising a bearing or roller 4G, carried by an actuator-arm i?, which is pivoted at 4S to an arm 4:9 of the scale-beam 125. Attached to this actuator-arm f7 is a connecting-rod 5l, the opposite end of which is pivoted at 52 to an arm or link 53, which latter is pivoted to an arm 54:, preferably formed on the scale-beam. Pivotally secured to the rod 5l.

and link 55 at their point of connection is an actuator-connector 5G, the lower end of which is pivotally secured to theregulating mechanism by a rearwardly-extending arm 57, whereby the regulator on its oscillatory movements operates the links 33 and and rods 3l and 5l ina manner similar to toggle-joints, and whereby the valve-actuator 4G is shifted from its operative to its inoperative position during the operation of said regulator in one direction.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the bucket is in the position shown in Fig. l, on the descent of the same toits poising position the bucket-carrying arms l2 of the beam likewise descend, carrying therewith the beam-arm 2U, thereby permitting the descent of the weighted valve-lever 25 and the reduction by the closing of thereducing-valve of the material to the bucket. When such bucket has received its true load, it descends below its poising position, whereby the valve-actuator i6 descends into position to permit the closing of the cnt-oil valve by means of the weighted arm l2' thereof, whereby the complete cutting ol'f of the material to the bucket is obtained.

rlhe weights for all the parts of this apparatus will be experimentally determined in the first instance in order to secure the proper action of such parts.

The closer mechanism, (designated generally by B) which, as before stated, forms a part of the load-discharge mechanism, (designated generally by A,) comprehends a closer or shiftable member and acontrolling instrumentality or means for locking said closer shut and also for locking the same open, and which controlling mechanism in the preferred construction comprises a pair of lockers, one operative to lock said closer shut andthe other to lock the same open. In the preferred form thereof herein shown and described this shiftable member or closer (designated generally by GO) comprises a suitably-formed plate 'or closer proper G l, having arms G2 and G3, preferably and usually formed rigid therewith, and which closer is shown oscillatorily secured to the bucket by brackets 6l, whereby said closer is in position to operate at the discharge opening or spout 65, which is preferably shown herein at the lower end of said bucket. This closer is provided with aplurality of working parts, hereinafter described. In order that the closer may be self-operating to close such discharge-opening after the discharge of the material therefrom, suitable means is provided for actuating the same, and in one form thereof it comprises a weight 6G, carried at the free end of a rearward extension (37 of one of the arms, as 62, of said closer, and which weight will be suflicient to counterbalance and quickly shut the closer after all appreciable amount ofmaterial has passed from thebucket and the closer is released from its locked-open position, but insullicient in itself' lo main- IOO IOS

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tain the same closed against the weight of the load in said bucket. Therefore in order to maintain the closer shut during the loading 0f the bucket and while the valve mechanism is open and until after the same is completely closed and the supply of material to such bucket is thereby cut off suitable locking mechanism is provided, herein designated as lock-closed means or mechanism and constituting a part ofthe closer-controlling means hereinbefore specified, and which lock-closed instrumentality or means in its preferred form, herein shown, comprehends a locker 70, which is pivotally secured in this instance to one side of the load-receptacle by some suitable pivotal device 7l and involves in the form shown a plurality of working parts, and in this particular structure one of such working parts comprises an arm 72, in position to be engaged by an actuator, (shown in the nature of a pin 56', carried by one of the actuator-connectors, as 56, connected to the regulator,) while the other working part com prises an instru m entality operative to lock the closer shut and shown herein as a latch or latchlever 7, in position to engage one of the working parts of the closer. This closer working part is illustrated herein as an arm 74, carried by the hub 75 of one of the closer-arms, as 63, whereby said closer is locked shut by said locker during the loading period of the bucket.

)Vhen the closer is unlocked at the proper time to discharge the load, it is preferable in practice to lock such closer open, and for this purpose the other part of the closer-controlling means is provided, and which is herein designated as an open-lock instrumentality or means, comprehending, as before specified, alocker 80, herein shown in its preferred form independent of the lock-closed locker 70 and also pivotally secured to the load-receiver by some suitable pivotal device Sl. This locker also has a plurality of working parts and is shown herein as an angle-lever, one of `the working parts of which is in the nature of a catch S2, in position to engage at the proper time the other working part of the closer, (shown as an arm 83, also carried by the hub of said closer-arm 63,) whereby on the engagement of said locker 8() therewith the closer will be locked open. (See vfull lines Fig. 3.) The other working part of this locker SO comprises an arm 84, having at its free end a working face or tooth S5, in position to be engaged by an instrumentality (shown herein as preferably forming a part of the regulator mechanism) hereinafter described and adapted to operate such locker SO, thereby to unlock the closer from its open-lock position and permit it to shut.

able stop is provided, (illustrated vherein as a pin 86,) disposed below the arm Sat of said locker.

The regulating mechanism (generally designated. by C) comprises in the preferred.

To maintain this,` locker 8O in proper working position, a suit`V form thereof herein shown and described a hopper 00, having the usual discharge openingor mouth 9i, and which hopper is pivotally secured below the bucket, intermediate the side frames or uprights 2 and 3, for shiftable or oscillatory movement. This regulatori hopper is provided with the usual counterbalance-weight 92, carried by a rearwardlyextending arm 93 and adapted to return said hopper to its normal position afterall appreciable amount of material has passed therefrom. The hopper, as before stated, has secured thereto the actuator-connectors 36 and 56, whereby by means of the regulator mechanism the opening` of the suljiply-valve mechanism, and also the operation of the closercontrolling mechanism, is effected.

To unlock or release the closer from its openlock position at the proper time, a suitable instrumentality is provided and in the form shown com prehends an actuator somewhat in the nature of a by-pass or pawl 95, preferably shiftably mounted on the hopper and shown pivotally secured thereto and normally held in position by a counterbalance-weight 96 and a stop, such as a pin 97, carried by said hopper. This actuator engages the working face or tooth of the locker SO during the return movement of the regulator-hopper to its normal position, and. thereby operates the same to unlock the closer from its open-lock position, and thereby permits it to shut. The arm 84 of this locker SO is cut away or curved, as at 84', to permit the actuator 95 to disengage itself therefrom at the proper time and permit said locker to return or move inward toits normal inoperative position. By means of this curvature Se' the actuator 95, on the descent or working stroke of the regulator, will not shift the locker SO, but will be carried into position beneath the same, thereby to lift such locker to unlock the closer at the proper time. ln the operation of this improved load-discharge mechanism on the descent of the load-receptacle with its proper load, the arm 72 of the locker 70 engages the actuator 56" of the aetuator-connector 56, whereby said locker is shifted or oscillated, thus disengaging the closer-arm 7l of the closer,which is then forced open by the weight of the material in the receptacle, whereupon the other arm S3 of said closer is carried into position to be engaged by the locker 8D, and said closer is locked open. In practice the rst upward movement of the regulator-hop per takes place very slowly, as the grain or other material being weighed runs downwardly out of the hopper. This gradual operation gives ample time, under the usual conditions, for the shutting of the closer after the actuator, which is pivotally supported on the hopper, has unlocked the bucket-closer and permitted it to begin its closing` movement, and in the form of mechanism shown herein said first upward movement of the reg ulator hopper from the position a to position b, Fig. 3, causes the releasing pawl or IOO IIO

actuator 95 to lift the open-lock locker 8O from its full-line position to its dotted-line position, Fig. 3, thereby disengaging the catch $2 of said locker SO from the arm S3 of the bucketcloser, whereupon the closer will be rapidly shut by the action of its closing-weight U6 and will be locked close by the locker engaging the other closer-arm 74:. After the early part of the upward movement of the regulator-hopper has so far lifted the actuator 95 as to release the closer from its open-lock position and permitted it to commence its closing movement, and when the hopper is moving from the position l) to the position c, Fig. 3, said actuator passes by the working face or tooth S5 with which it was in engagement, and thus releases the locker SO, the actuator 95 passing on into an inoperative position, and thereby temporarily severing all operative connection between the regulator mechanism and the closer mechanism. By means of this organization ot' the several parts of the described mechanism the actuator is thus made operative during the upward movement of the regulator-hopper and is adapted on the downward movement of said hopper to pass bythe working face or tooth S5 of the locker SO without operating such locker or in any way interfering with the proper action of the weighing mechanism during the weighing period ot' the machine.

From the foregoing it will therefore be seen that the shutting ofthe closer is regulated by the regulator mechanism and that also, in view of the construction shown, in which the actuator 5G for engaging the closed-lock locker 70 is carried by the actuator-connector 5G, the opening of the closer is also regulated indirectly by said regulator mechanism, so that it will thus be seen that when the regulator-hopper is in its normal stationary position it operates to unlock the closer from its closed-lock position by means of its actuator 56', and that when said hopper is moving into such position it is effective to unlock the closer from its open-lock position to permit the same to shut.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. The combination, with a load-receiver, of a closer for the same having-arms; a pivoted latch-lever carried by the load-receiver for engaging with one of said arms; a pivoted locker forengaging with another of said arms, said locker having at its free end a working face or tooth; a movable regulator-hopper; and means carried by said hopper for engaging with the working face or tooth of the locker to thereby release the closer from its open position and permit the same to shut.

2. The combination, with a load-receiver, of a closer for the same havinga rearwardlyprojecting arm and also having a second arm; a pivoted latch-lever carried by the load-receiver for engaging with said rearwardly-projecting arm and locking the closer shut; a pivoted locker adapted to engage with the second arm of the closer and serving to lock said closer open, said locker having a catch intermediate its ends, and at its free end a working face or tooth; a pivoted regulatorhopper; and a pivoted pawl carried by said hopper and adapted to engage the working face or tooth of the locker as the hopper rises and thereby actuate said locker to release the closer and permit the same to shut.

3. The combination, with a load-receiver and with beam mechanism for supporting said load-receiver, of a counterweighted closer having two latching arms carried by said loadreceiver; alatch-leverpivoted on the load-rcceiver and adapted to engage with one of the arms of the closer to lock the same shut; a movable locker having a catch adapted to engage the other arm of the closer to lock the same open, said locker having a working face or tooth at its free end; and a counterweighted regulator having a pawl movably connected therewith, said pawl beinga'dapted to pass by the workin g face or tooth of the locker as the regulator descends and to engage said face or tooth when the regulator rises.

4. The combination, with a load-receiver having a closer, of arms carried by the closer; a latch-lever mounted on the load-receiver for engaging one of said arms; a locker also mounted on the load-receiver and having a catch adapted to engage the other of said arms; a regulator-hopper; valve mechanism; means for actuating the valve mechanism connected with the regulator-hopper; a device carried by said means for tripping the latchlever; and a device carried by the regulatorhopper and adapted to engage the locker to release the same from the arm on the closer on the rising movement of said regulatorhopper.

5. In a machine ot lthe class specified, the combination, with beam mechanism, of valve mechanism for regulating the supply of material a load-receiver; a closer pivoted to said load-receiver and provided with two arms; a latch-lever for locking the closer shut; a locker cut away or curved as set forth and having a catch for locking the closer open and provided with a working face or tooth; a regulator-hopper; a rod connected with said hopper for actuating the valve mechanism, said rod having a pin or stop for tripping the latchlever; and a pawl pivoted on the regulatorhopper and adapted to engage with the working face or tooth of the locker on the rising movement of the regulator-hopper, thereby to release the closer to permit the same to shut.

FRANCIS ll. RICHARDS.

Vitnesses:

C. A. WEED. E. A. MEAD.

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